plate no. 4051

The Ancients

Maynard Dixon, 1922

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguresNative Americansskylandscapefeather staff

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blocking in shapes with simplified values and creating atmospheric perspective through color temperature changes. Students will also practice rendering figures with drapery using a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of the figures and the feather staff.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, ground, and figures using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the main value contrasts, focusing on the light source and shadows.
step 04
Develop the forms of the figures by adding mid-tones and highlights, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces and hands, using subtle color variations to create depth.
step 06
Paint the feather staff, carefully rendering the individual feathers with varying values and textures.
step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value relationships to create a sense of atmosphere and unity.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and white. Use yellow ochre and white to create the warm tones of the sky and figures. Add small amounts of raw sienna to warm up the browns.

techniques

·blocking in
·value studies
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of unity.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags